Sam Bailey: X Factor put strain on my marriage

Sam Bailey has admitted competing on 'The X Factor' has put a strain on her 10-year marriage to Craig Pearson, but the brunette winner is looking forward to spending some alone time with her husband when they head to New York to renew their vows next month

Sam Bailey has vowed to "win back" her husband after 'The X Factor' put a strain on her marriage.

The 36-year-old star was crowned winner of the ITV talent show on Sunday night (15.12.13) and admitted her husband of 10 years, Craig Pearson - who she has two children, Brooke, eight, and four-year-old Tommy with - has found her rise to fame a "surreal" experience.

She told The Sun newspaper: "It's been tough. I'm not going to lie. I think Craig is finding it all a bit surreal to be honest.

"He's not been in the little bubble I've been in so there's a fear of the unknown for both of us. It's been hard to be away from my family. Craig has held the fort for so long and has done such an amazing job -- but he wants me back now."

Sam and Craig will renew their vows in New York next month before she starts working on her first studio album, and she is looking forward to spending some alone time with him.

She said: "We just want to experience New York with no kids. When we got married in Vegas 10 years ago we said we wanted to renew our vows and do it in New York."

As well as missing Craig, the prison officer - who has been dubbed Screwbo - found it tough not seeing her children everyday while she was on 'The X Factor', and admits she even questioned whether she could remain in the competition because she was missing them so much.

She added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "The hardest part was being away from my kids. My son has been ill with a cold and I haven't been there to get him better.

"I felt guilty, but I don't want to struggle any more. When there is a goal in sight you have to sacrifice something and they are not going to be damaged by it.

"A couple of times I thought, 'I don't know if I can do this,' but despite the pain I just had to push on - I had to do it for them.

"I want to take them on holidays and I want to buy my mum a little house near where we live. I would love to be able to do things like that."